Hello All
What gifts are you hoping to receive this Christmas?
Gifts come in many different shapes and sizes. Some are neatly packaged and others are haphazardly wrapped. Some givers couldn’t even be bothered to wrap the gifts they bought.
But there are gifts that cannot be contained in a box. Those gifts are given to us by God. Let us ponder a while about such gifts.
A good night’s sleep is a gift we often take for granted. Those who struggle with insomnia will understand the value of a good night’s sleep.
Our talents and intellect are gifts that are to be used not for our own glory but for God’s glory alone.
Even our five senses – hearing, sight, touch, smell, and taste – are wonderful gifts that we don’t even give a second thought to.
Relationships are also gifts from God…
A Danish Christmas Tale
Chapter 8: Christmas Eve
By Joanne Liaw Sook Ling (17 October 2016)
Dedicated to a dear friend who inspired the poem.
A church service was held on Christmas Eve morn’
To commemorate the day when Jesus was born
He came to earth to bear our sins and He was scorned
He was abandoned, deserted, mocked and forlorn
The service ended with people leaving gaily
Ted breathed a deep sigh of relief, ‘Well, finally!’
He took off his tight reverend collar casually
Laura said, ‘It’s Christmas Eve! Let’s get ready!’
Everyone prepared for the family dinner
Ashley sat down for a while, looking rather somber
Cindy came and sat down quietly beside her
Sometimes, no words were needed for one to feel better
After a while, Ashley found some words to utter
‘I wonder what has become of my bad father?
We used to leave him food supply in the gutter
Where he is right now - I do not have an answer’
‘Maybe God knows it’s for the better,’ said Cindy
‘It may be time to release the bad memory’
Tears of trauma flowed from Ashley’s blue eyes freely
She was kindly embraced by her dear friend, Cindy
Delicious food was served for Christmas Eve dinner
Paul and Claire cracked jokes and Ted had fun with banters
Laura, Ashley, and Cindy were cleaning platters
The house was filled with singing, music, and laughter
‘I have a gift for you,’ said Ashley to Cindy
‘That’s nice. Thank you so much,’ said Cindy gratefully
‘Giving gifts reminds me of God’s gift of mercy
Jesus Christ is God’s greatest gift to you and me’
THE END…
Points for Reflection:
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 6:23 ESV)
· The friendship between Ashley and Cindy was God’s gift to them. Cindy’s quiet presence comforted Ashley in a way that words could not.
· God has created us for relationships. No Christian is meant to be an island.
· Take a moment to thank God for the relationships that He has blessed you with. Do you know of someone who needs to be comforted? How could you be sharing God’s comfort with others?
· Many of us tend to be so focussed on human relationships that we forget about the most important relationship - our relationship with God.
· Jesus Christ is God’s greatest Gift to us - a free Gift that did not come cheap but cost Jesus His life.
· Our sins have separated us from a holy God and made us His enemies. It is only through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that we have been reconciled to God. Because of God’s mercy, those of us who trust in Christ have no fear of death for Christ has removed death’s bitter sting. In place of death, we can look forward to an eternity of bliss with God in heaven.
· Have you lost the excitement of being a recipient of such a wonderful Gift? Has your heart been distracted by all the other gifts in the world? Rediscover your joy this Christmas in God’s greatest Gift – Jesus Christ!
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